Exploring our cities can make us happier.
The pandemic has left us something good and it is power rediscover our cities with fewer people than usual , quieter and calmer. To be able to visit that museum that we had on the wish list, take out the bike and pedal around Madrid or take the opportunity to visit the Sagrada Familia, now that it has reopened for the people of Barcelona.
The experience of walking along the Ramblas of Barcelona, almost impassable a few months ago, or walking aimlessly through the Gothic has become something pleasant for many residents of the city. See children play in the most touristic squares of Barcelona or Madrid It is something we do not want to give up.
In fact, a study published in May shows how good it can be for our mental health to explore our cities and neighborhoods with a "fresh look".
Tour the silent Barcelona and discover corners like this.
According to Nature Neuroscience exploring our everyday environment can be key to our happiness. The research that was published on May 18, and in which 122 people from New York City and Miami participated over several months, suggests that doing it on a regular basis offers as much happiness as taking a trip to another country.
To demonstrate this, the Nature Neuroscience research team analyzed people's movements with GPS trackers. Through text messages, the participants recorded their moods, demonstrating that those who had more daily experiences in their cities felt in better spirits than those who stayed at home.
Making an effort and visiting those outstanding restaurants or museums eventually generates a kind of snowball. They bring more and more happiness, according to the study.
"If I feel better today, I am likely to move on and have more novel experiences and have more experiential diversity the next day, and vice versa," study co-author Catherine Hartley told Inverse. "If I have more novel and diverse experiences today, I'm likely to feel better not just today but the next day." .